Japan: National Report in preparation for WCDR (2004)

The cornerstone of legislation on disaster risk reduction is the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act,
enacted in 1961, which set out the basis for measures to reduce disaster risk in Japan. There are also
organizations involved in disaster risk reduction, legislation on disaster risk reduction and emergency
response to disasters, post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, and all-round legislative provision
regarding specific disaster risk reduction activities. Disaster countermeasures and risk reduction are
comprehensively covered.
Under the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act, the Basic Plan for Disaster Management has been
drafted, setting out comprehensive and long-term plans for disaster risk reduction in Japan: based on this
Plan, a comprehensive disaster-management planning system has been established.